All eyes on the Phoenix Park

ALL eyes will be on the Phoenix Park this week as the first in a series of three massive gigs gets underway.

Residents living near the park will be anxiously waiting to see if stringent new conditions attached to the three shows, starting on Wednesday, will prevent a repeat of the shameful scenes that marred one of the concerts last year.

There were a number of deaths from suspected overdoses and several others were injured as violence broke out during a performance by dance act, Swedish House Mafia, in the park last year.

The disgraceful scenes of public drunkenness disgusted local residents who called for such concerts to be banned from the park.

Despite their reservations, Dublin City Council has granted a licence for concerts to be held this week, on July 10, 13 and 14.

Up to 40,000 fans are expected to attend each of the gigs which kick off on Wednesday when Justin Timberlake takes to the stage, followed by the Killers on Saturday and Mumford & Sons on Sunday.

The council has granted the licence to Festival Republic Limited on behalf of MCD Productions Limited, subject to 14 conditions.

The conditions include a robust security and Garda operation plan and an integrated waste/litter management plan for the concert site, the Phoenix Park itself and surrounding residential areas.

A Residents’ Hotline (01-6790021) is also being established from 9am to 12 midnight on each day of the concerts to allow locals to call the authorities if they witness anti-social behaviour.

Temporary portable toilet facilities will also be provided outside the concert site and a fully integrated traffic management plan has been drafted and will be put in place.

Cllr Nial Ring (Ind) said that although many residents in his constituency had expressed grave reservations and outright opposition to the granting of a public event licence for the concerts, he was delighted to see that his request for an incident hotline had been agreed to.

“I believe the additional measure of a well publicised, manned and controlled residents’ hotline will alleviate, to a great extent, the concerns of my constituents who will undoubtedly be affected by the crowds going to and coming from the three concerts,

? he said.

“The hotline will be provided and staffed by Festival Republic Ltd/MCD from 9am to 12 midnight on the day of each concert.

“The facility is primarily for local residents and businesses to call in with any complaints or concerns relating to issues surrounding the concerts.

“Where necessary, complaints or concerns that cannot be dealt with by Festival Republic Ltd/MCD staff will be referred on to the appropriate agency.

“A log of all calls will be kept, inclusive of name, address, telephone number, details of complaint, action taken and resolution.

?

Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, who is chair of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee, also welcomed the improved arrangements for the event.

“It is imperative that the event organisers, the gardai and the OPW get it right this time,

? she said.

“Dublin City Council must ensure that the commitments given by the event organisers, gardai and the OPW are actually delivered and there is no repeat of the horrible scenes from last year’s concerts.

“Public order must be maintained at all times and the safety of residents and concert goers asserted.

?

However, Pat Allison of the Navan Road Community Council said that despite the added precautions locals remained anxious about the concerts.

“All eyes are on the Phoenix Park this week,

? she said.

“We have had amicable meetings with the promoters and acknowledge the extra precautions being put in place.

“We are also fully aware that there will be a different following attracted to these particular concerts.

“But that does not move us from our position that the park is an inappropriate location for concerts of this type and scale, full stop.

“This is a protected public park that is supposed to be available to the public all year round and that is a fact.

“These concerts should be staged in a more appropriate city centre venue that is designed and built for this purpose.

“This will be an anxious week for residents,

? she added.

“We have adopted a wait and see approach as there is little else we can do for the time being.

?